1. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to travel on or across an area of water in a boat or shipsail across/into/out of etc the first Europeans to sail across the Atlantic Three tall ships sailed past. She always wanted to sail around the world.sail the Pacific/the Atlantic etc We’re taking two months off to sail the Caribbean.

2. [intransitive] to start a journey by boat or ship: We sail at dawn.sail for They’re sailing for Antigua next week.

3. [intransitive and transitive] to direct or control the movement of a boat or ship that has a sail: Blake sailed the ship safely through the narrow passage. My father taught me to sail.

4. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly and smoothly through the airsail through/over/into etc A ball came sailing over the fence.

5. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move forwards gracefully and confidently: She sailed into the room.

6. sail close to the wind British English to do or say something that is nearly wrong, illegal, or dishonestsail through something phrasal verb to succeed very easily in a test, examination etc: Adam sailed through his final exams.

sail noun ADJ. main | canvas VERB + SAIL hoist, raise | drop, lower | adjust, trim | fill The dinghy gathered speed as the wind filled her sails. reef, shorten | furl SAIL + VERB billow, flap The bay was full of yachts with billowing sails. fill SAIL + NOUN area, shape, size | canvas PREP. under ~ The yacht came in under sail and anchored near us. PHRASES the days of sail The boat is preserved as a monument to the days of sail. in/under full sail She advanced towards us like a galleon in full sail. set sail (for) We set sail for France at first light.

sail verb ADV. serenely | single-handed to sail single-handed around the world away, back, on, out, past The boat sailed serenely on towards the horizon. VERB + SAIL learn to | teach sb to PREP. across sailing across the English Channel down, for The ferry sails for Southampton at 5.30. from, into We sailed the boat out into the middle of the lake. on We sailed on a large ocean liner. sailing on the sea | out of sailing out of the harbour | to sailing from Dover to Calais. | up, etc.